Sprayer



Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNI SPRAYER Frank 3. Giord, Dedham, Mass.,assigner to Garden Hose Spray Co., Cambridge, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Application Marea 27, 1939, semi No. 264,292

1 Claim.

This invention relates to sprayers and more particularly to sprayers ofthe type including a chamber for holding soluble chemical cartridgesadapted to produce a resultant spray suitable for the purpose intended.

More particularly my invention relates to a sprayer for use inconnection with the washing of automobiles orother road vehicles, which,in the course of operation, invariably collect an oily or iu greasy filmwhich is dilcult to remove.

It is customary in washing automobiles to use a hose or spray inconjunction with soap or other detergent, which, under the inuence ofrubbing with a sponge or chamois, results in the removal l5 of the oilfilm. This procedure is quite satisfactory in commercial establishments,but in general has not been looked upon with favor by the automobileowner who wished to wash his car at home, for the reason that theprocedure was awkward and the result uncertain.

In addition to the above difficulties, the or-l dinary garden hose whichwould ordinarily be used by an individual in washing his own car hasattached to its end a metal connection or a metal nozzle which often, onhitting the finished surface of the car, would scrape or dent it. Forthis reason, individuals washing cars were forced to be exceptionallycareful lest they damage the finish, and this further minimized thedesire of the average owner to dohis own washing.

To avoid these undesirable features, I have provided -the inventionshown herein which enables one to wash an automobile quickly andconveniently without damage to the finish and without havingto provideany special equipment or to guard particularly against the wetting ofthe clothing of the operator.

One object of my invention is to provide a spraying and washing nozzlewhich may be attached to an ordinary garden hose and which contains asuiiicient quantity of detergent material to permit the washing ofseveral cars before the necessity of refilling.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sprayer of the abovecharacteristics which is practically non-breakable under the use towhich it is normally subjected and at the same time of material softenough to eliminate damage to the car nish should the sprayer and car bein accidental engagement.

.These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent asthe description proceeds with the aid ofthe accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view cf my sprayer including therein a cartridgeof soluble detergent material.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a modified form. Fig. 3 is an enlargedplan view of the swirl disk. .o In Fig. 1 is shown the preferred form ofmy externally threaded, as at I0. 5

The internal diameter of barrel 2 is such that -it may convenientlyreceive a cartridge of soluble detergent material sufciently large toprovide for the washing of several cars. Such a cartridge is shown atI2. l0

The end portion 4 in relation to barrel 2 is of particular construction.It will be noted that the barrel, which is preferably cylindrical, hasat its closed or exit end a shoulder I4 formed by the end portionagainst which is seated a swirl disk l5 I5, which will hereafter bedescribed in more detail.

From the inner circumference of the shoulder I4 the end portion assumesa conical form, as at I8, terminating in an end closure 2li. The inner20 diameter of end closure 20 is less thanthe effective distance betweenthe diametrically disposed openings through the swirl disk I6, describedhereinafter. The provision of the conical portion improves the characterof the spray that is 25 emitted through the spray opening 6, because theangular rotation of the water Ais accelerated as it approaches theopening. The higher the rotative velocity, the more nely will be dividedthe resultant spray. 30

The swirl disk I6, -for the purpose of providing the desired angularvelocity to the water and shown inplan in Fig. 3, is a relatively thindisk of non-corroding material having small oppositely disposed openingstherethrough close to 35v shoulder I4 and formed by depressing smallareas of the material to form raised areas 22 and 24.

It will be noted that these areas are facing in opposite directions sothat fluids passing there` 40 through will come out on the opposite sidetravelling in opposite directions and thus will set up a rotary movementin the space 26 between the swirl disk and the end closure 20.

In order that my device may be cheaply made 45 and still be foolproof inthe hands of the average user, the swirl disk is maintained in positionby a force fit within barrel 2. The internal diameter of barrel 2 istapered very slightly, being somewhat larger at the-open end than at theclosed 50 end. By making the swirl disk of proper diameter, ..1 that is,smaller than the diameter of the open end of the barrel but larger thanthe diameter Lof the closed end, the disk first engages the interior ofthe barrel when being set in place atsome 55 intermediate point, as, forexample, point 28. If if? the barrel is made of suitable material and asuitable tool is used for forcing the swirl disk to its final restingplace against shoulder I4, I have found that the disk, when sopositioned, will maintain its positicn indefinitely without the use ofother securing means. In this manner a cheap` construction is provided,and the possibility of the unit getting out of order through dislodgmentoi the swirl disk is eliminated. Inpressing the disk to position againstshoulder I4, it is preferable that it be maintained transversely of thebarrel.

From the foregoing description it will be seen, however, that thematerial of which barrel 2 is made is of importance. If the barrel wereof metal or glass or other equally hard substance, it would have adamaging effect when in contact with the finish of the car, andsecondly, it would be difficult to drive the swirl disk home without"transparent and of a low degree of hardness.

These characteristics are desirable, for with the barrel transparent theoperator may know when the detergent cartridge has been consumed, and

feo

because of the softness of the cellulose acetate, the user may have nofear of the result should the sprayer come in contact with the carfinish. Furthermore, cellulose acetate is strong and elastic, and thebarrel will not break if the4 sprayer is dropped.

Because of the softness of the material, it is necessary to provide ametal adapter at the openv end so that repeated connections with thehose may be made without damage to the sprayer. 'I'his ladapter is shownat 30 and is connected to the hose connection 32 with a washer 34therebetween to prevent leakage. The hose is indicated at I36.

It will be observed that in Fig. 1 the sprayer has been formed as asingle integral Aunit with the swirl disk I6 frictionally held in placeat the closed end. Obviously this prohibits tampering with the swirldisk, and since the detergent cartridge I2 that is used in connectiontherewith is soluble, I have found that there is no trouble whatsoeverin clogging of the ports 22 and 24 of the swirl disk or the sprayopening 6. Because of this absence of 'clogging it is entirelyunnecessary that means be providedfor inspection or cleaning of theswirl disk.

However, in certain cases which prevail under some manufacturing`conditions it will be found more desirable to make the b. rrel 2 in theform of a tube open at both ends, as shown in Fig. 2'. In such cases theend may be closed by the addition of a cap 38 which may be affixed byscrew threads or otherwise. When the end has' been closed in thismanner, as by a cap, it is contemplated that it will remain permanentlyin this condition, as there will be no necessity for removing the capthereafter, otherwise the construction of Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. 1.'I'he cap and the inner end formation of the barrel provide the conicalformation 40 which is similar to I3 of Fig. 1, and the centrally locatedspray opening 42 is the same as the spray opening 6.

Likewise in the construction of Fig. 2 swirl disk I 6 is put intoposition by introduction through the open end 8 and driven home vto aforce fit against shoulder I4 by suitable tools.

'I'he cap 38 is made of the same material as sprayer to the hose bymeans of the adapter, and

turn on the water. With the sprayer in one hand to direct the spray atthe car and with a sponge or chamois in the other, the greasy film willbe quickly removed. No other equipment is necessary, and because thespray opening 6 isl small, thereby permitting only a fine spray to passthrough, there is little likelihood of the operator getting wet.

By usinga detergent of non-soapy characteristics it is entirelyunnecessary to dry the car following rinsing, as it will dry by normalevaporation without streaking, leaving the automobile ready for a finalpolish if desired.

In order to distribute the detergent solution over as wide an area aspossible and still not use any more water than is necessary, the raisedareas 22 and 24 of swirl disk I6 must be arranged to provide passage forthe water therethrough in such manner that rotation ofthe water at asuitabievelocity in space 26 will take place. By having the outer wallsof space 26 in conical form, as at I8, the rotating liquid isaccelerated as it approaches the spray opening 6, with the result thatthe spray emitted therefrom spreads into a wide cone composed of fineparticles. This arrangement provides for an adequate attack on thegreasy lm without unnecemary wastage of solution.

While I, have shown and described preferred forms of my invention, I donot intend to be limited thereby, but' only by the appended claim.

I claim:

A sprayer utilizing a soluble cartridge for use in washing automobilesand the like, comprising a tubular barrel 'formed of transparentmoldable material softer than lthe tlnish of an automobile, said barrelhaving its internal bore entirely unobstructed and slightly taperedtoward the exit end, said exit endf being substantially closed by an endportion, said end portion comprising a narrow internal circumferentiallyextending shoulder and including a conical formation extending from'saidshoulder toward the end, said conical formation terminating in a bluntflat end closure having a small opening therethrough, said blunt dat endclosure adapted to distribute the shock upon engagement with thefinished surface of an automobile, a swirl disk of non-corrodingmaterial and greater in diameter than the original internal diameter ofthe smaller end of said barrel and smaller in diameter than the internaldiameter. of the other end of said barrel,

said swirl disk irictionally and irremovably maintained transversely insaid barrel against said shoulder to form a truncated cone-shaped spacebetween said swirl disk and said end closure, said swirl disk having aplurality of openings therethrough adjacent the shoulder and formed. soas to direct liquid passing through said openings against said conicalwall whereby said liquid will be caused torotate, said swirl disk alsoproviding means for forming a liquid cushion between it and the end of acartridge that may be used therewith whereby said openings will notbecome blocked by said cartridge when in use. f

FRANK J. GIFFORD.

